Crime in Tern: statistics, rates and trends
280 crimes were recorded in Tern in the 12 months to August 2026, 51.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (132), anti-social behaviour (51) and criminal damage and arson (22) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,958th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Tern | Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 280 | 19,214 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 51.7 | 57.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 5,413 | 332,455 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Tern peaked in the year to August 2020 (456 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (229). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 280 | 51.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 291 | 53.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 229 | 42.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 313 | 57.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 331 | 61.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 428 | 79.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 456 | 84.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 430 | 79.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 325 | 60.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 24 |
| July 2026 | 27 |
| June 2026 | 23 |
| May 2026 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 27 |
| March 2026 | 26 |
| February 2026 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 18 |
| December 2025 | 22 |
| November 2025 | 16 |
| October 2025 | 17 |
| September 2025 | 43 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and criminal damage and arson (40% below) and anti-social behaviour (39% below) were well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 132 | 24.4 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 51 | 9.4 | 15.4 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 22 | 4.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 13 | 2.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Other theft | 13 | 2.4 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 13 | 2.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 12 | 2.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 1.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 1.1 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 4 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Tern.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Tern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlescott | 500 | 132.5 | +156% |
| Battlefield | 414 | 75.4 | +46% |
| Sundorne & Old Heath | 410 | 76.7 | +48% |
| Bagley | 264 | 57.1 | +10% |
| Castlefields & Ditherington | 451 | 79.8 | +54% |
| Underdale | 262 | 58.2 | +13% |
| Monkmoor | 385 | 92.8 | +79% |
| Quarry & Coton Hill | 1,569 | 338.5 | +554% |
The 10 locations below account for 48% of the crime recorded in Tern over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” and “The Wickets” (21 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 21 |
| On or near The Wickets | 21 |
| On or near Shrewsbury Road | 20 |
| On or near Blacksmith'S View | 13 |
| On or near Merrington Road | 12 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 12 |
| On or near Emstrey Bank | 11 |
| On or near Whitehouse Lane | 9 |
| On or near Coracle Close | 8 |
| On or near Supermarket | 7 |
Of the 229 crimes in Tern with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 51 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 121 | 52.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 54 | 23.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 31 | 13.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.9% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.4% | 2.5% |
Tern has an estimated population of 5,413 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (7.5%, against 23.3%), an older population (29%, against 19%) and less social housing (9.2%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Tern average decile 6.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Tern | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 30.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 7.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 20.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Tern a safe place to live?
Tern recorded 51.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,958th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Tern?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 132 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (51).
Is crime in Tern going up or down?
Recorded crime in Tern was down 4% on the year before: 280 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 291 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Tern?
About 5,413 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Tern?
Tern is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.